Defense bill amendment to boost STEM education

An amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, authored by Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, would inject $5 million into the national STARBASE Youth Program, which provides science, technology, engineering and math education to underserved students nationwide.

In the 47th District, the STARBASE Youth Program Facility at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base serves about 4,000 students a year and is funded by $1 million in state funds and $750,000 in federal funds, according to a news release from Lowenthal’s office.

The STARBASE program is active in 56 congressional districts throughout the country and is set up on existing military bases. The program focuses on elementary students, primarily fifth graders, and motivates them to explore STEM education as they continue their academic careers.

The program targets students who live in inner cities or rural locations, those who are socio-economically disadvantaged, low in academic performance or have a disability.

The Appropriations Act passed the House of Representatives on June 20 by a vote of 340-73.